Richard E Rivera

Richard E Rivera was a modest man, quiet and observant in his ways. He was trustworthy and traditional in his approach to his life and in his relationships. He was tough-minded with the kind of “stick to it” attitude that earned the respect of all who knew him. He was also a man who was meticulous, carefully disciplined, and orderly in virtually everything he undertook. Realistic about life, he was always at the ready, prepared to take on responsibility.

Richard was born on March 22, 1948 at Memorial Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. His parents were Raul Rivera and Mary Escarsega. Richard was raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He was brought up to be self-confident and dependable. These were traits that would serve him well throughout his life.

Growing up in the Rivera household was a bit different than most homes. There were good times to be had, but just as often there was a fair share of challenges as well. However, Richard was able to work through the usual family problems when they appeared, and he was the one person in the family who seemed able to keep the stress at bay. Richard was raised with Twelve Siblings. He had four brothers: Gilbert, Robert, Raul, Manny and eight sisters: Rachel, Becky, Perla, Barbara, Leticia, Mara, Priscilla, Linda. Richard was constantly involved in activities with his brothers and sisters. Richard and his siblings may have had the typical rivalries while growing up but Richard was always consistently loyal to his family.

As a young child, Richard was always curious about the world around him and was often eager to explore it. In his spare time he liked art and music. Richard's memorable achievements included Spelling Bee champ, and he was an excellent student. However, what Richard enjoyed most was simply playing and spending time with his many friends.

Always considered to be a solid friend, Richard was able to see beneath the surface of relationships and became a true friend to those who knew him. He was committed to his friends and valued the trust he placed in them. It was not uncommon for Richard to go beyond the call of duty for others, and friends frequently sought him out for advice because he had a knack for coming up with practical solutions to any type of dilemma. While growing up, some of his best friends were Paul Bugayon, Nini and the Borquez family. Among his many friends were: Joe Roman, John Tracy, Billy, George Madueno and Jake.

Compassionate and devoted to Geraldine Diana, Richard held endearing, traditional values about marriage and family life. He took the responsibility of marriage to heart, giving it his total commitment. He was a source of strength to Geraldine Diana and using his gifts at nurturing one-on-one relationships, he worked hard to make his new family happy.

Richard brought the same traditional values in his marriage to bear on how he raised his children. He was a good parent to them, always firm yet fair in his dealings. He would always listen carefully and think things through before he acted, even when it was an adverse situation. Richard was also a walking schedule, always seeming to know what everyone in the family needed to do, where they needed to be and when they needed to be there. Richard was blessed with Three children, Daughters Nicole, Pamela and Monica. They were also blessed with Six grandchildren, two great grandchildren, Alexis, Rochelle, Nicolas, Celeste, Dominic, Dimitri, Alexis Jr. and Xavier.

Richard greatly enjoyed what he did for a living. He was a hard worker who expected the same in return from his co-workers. He was skilled at working effectively in small groups and in one-on-one situations as well as handling solo assignments efficiently. His primary occupation was Carpenter. He was employed by various woodworking companies in the cabinet and doormaking industry. Richard worked hard to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

Richard always tried to allocate a specific time for working on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were Art, history, music, movies, hackey-sack. Richard was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Recreational sports included Billiards and handball. He would watch his favorite sporting events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were Basketball, football, baseball, poker and billiards.

Some of his most prestigious awards included BEST DAD EVER! Most amazing Tata in the world!

Richard enjoyed traveling and taking vacations. No matter where he traveled, Richard always had a backup plan at the ready, just in case. Favorite vacations included San Diego, Hawaii and California Coast.

Richard was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Richard’s favorites was Sammy, a rescued dog. They were best friends for 13 Years. His family was rounded out by his dog Ginger Negra, Guera, Blackie, Chulin, Lola, Lulu; Peacock Sweet Pea, Rabbit Pearl and birds Pecker, Casper, Buster, Snowflake, Malo, Pumpkin head, Precious, and many more birds and many fish.

When Richard’s retirement finally arrived in 1997, he was well prepared. In his new found retired life he found new pleasure in home renovations, spending time with his family, watching sports, history and Science; reading and playing music. Even in retirement, Richard continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in his new community and felt fulfilled.

Richard E Rivera passed away on December 8, 2011 at Hospice of the Valley in Good Year. He is survived by Eleven brothers and sisters, his mother, wife,children and grandchildren. Services will be at Funeraria Del Angel Greer Wilson on Monday December 19, 2011. Funeraria Del Angel is in charge of his final resting place.

Commitment is a key word that can be used to describe the life of Richard E Rivera. He was committed to living the life of a good man who was both practical and trustworthy. He was committed to the traditional values that he upheld his entire life. He committed himself to being a hard worker who expected the same effort in return from those around him. Most of all, he was committed to those he knew and loved.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS FAMILY REQUEST DONATIONS TO BE MADE TO THE ASPCA organization